PORTLAND, Maine — There were around a half-dozen days this year like the one homeless service providers expected to see on Tuesday in Portland—people being forced out of their tents and moving to another homeless encampment.
But to most of everyone's surprise on Tuesday morning, no city crews or police officers showed up. The city stating, it would postpone the encampment clearing until Dec. 28.
The decision came after Portland City Council voted 7-2 Monday night to issue a statement of disapproval in future encampment sweeps. The city told NEWS CENTER Maine it decided to postpone the Harborview encampment clearing until Dec. 28 because of this.
"Until that time, we will continue intensive outreach efforts in collaboration with community partners," a city spokesperson told NEWS CENTER Maine.
For many living at the encampment, the sweep postponement could not have come at a better time.
"The storm you can see just ruined everything... at least they postponed moving," Justin Jarvis said, who is unhoused.
Jarvis said he became homeless in spring 2022 and has lived either in a tent or a car near the Harborview encampment since April of this year. He said the recent shuffling from DOT crews and the impending sweep of the encampment stressed people out.
"As the pressure builds up, it gets harder for folks," Jarvis said.
Jarvis said he struggles with a drug addiction, and while working full-time as a cook, it's keeping him from seeking shelter in the city.
"That falls on me and my foolish decisions, that kind of takes over," Jarvis said. "All week long I'm like 'I don't want it, I don't want it,'... but my brain tells me the only way I can do it is to get high or drunk."
He added by the time he finishes work late at night, there is no way to get to the shelter on Riverside Street.
Curfews and drug use are some of the large barriers keeping people from using the city run shelter. The city said last week it worked to push the curfew back to 11 p.m. to access shelter.
For providers like Shay Dufour, the postponement of the encampment clearing also came at a good time.
"Their clothes got wet, people got wet, they did not sleep well. It was just so bad," Dufour said.
Dufour was homeless herself for several years and said storms like this can displace people.
"You're trying to hold your tent down... it causes people to be upset," Dufour said.
For Preble Street, which advocated for the city to postpone the encampment sweep on Monday, the work to bring people into shelter from Harborview was slow yet steady.
"They have been working so hard to make people transition and move into shelter," Donna Yellen said.
Yellen is the vice president of strategic initiatives at Preble Street and said her team has brought 20 people into shelter during the month of December.
"People want to come in," Yellen said. "We need more shelter space made available and we need more affordable housing."
According to the City of Portland, 99 open shelter beds were available at the Homeless Services Center Tuesday evening.
Yellen said the postponement of the sweep can ensure a few more people get moved there.